School of Music

SWE Receives Glowing Praise for Midwest Performance

Shannon Sears

January 23, 2019

In December 2018, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the Texas Tech School of Music has enjoyed an extraordinary
year, with invited performances, the presentation of world premieres, consistently
packed audiences, and exciting opportunities to share the magic and talent of our
incredible young musicians. 2018 ended on a high note, as the Symphonic Wind Ensemble
was selected as the grand finale concert to close the 73rd Midwest Clinic, an event
which attracted 18,000 teachers, composers, performers, and industry from all over
the world.

The ensemble traveled to Chicago where they performed with guest artists John Hagstrom
(trumpet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and H. Robert Reynolds (USC principal wind ensemble
conductor and Director of Bands emeritus from the University of Michigan). The performance
was rewarded with a prolonged standing ovation, and praise continued to pour in long
after the conclusion of the Midwest Clinic. Below you'll find some highlights of the
response generated by the ensemble's performance and presence at Midwest. Congratulations
to Dr. Sarah McKoin and all the members of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble for this incredible
achievement!

"The beauty, sensitivity, dynamic control and absolutely tremendous musicianship was
astounding. I have never heard a better live performance of a University ensemble
ever! I have been attending the Midwest Clinic for 35 straight years and I have to
say your group's performance is certainly one of the highlights I will always cherish!"- Theo Vernon, Director of Bands, Grissom High School Band

"I was in attendance at your thrilling concert at Midwest. What a tremendous musical
experience you provided the audience! Seldom have I seen so many people moved by the
emotional content of the selections you chose to perform. I could not let the opportunity
pass without expressing my grateful thanks for a memorable performance."- Gary Wells, Phi Beta Mu, Secretary/Treasurer, Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame

"I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed your concert on the final
Saturday performance of Midwest this past year. I was so moved by the whole performance.
So many times, groups at Midwest are well-rehearsed (of course), but your ensemble
was clearly well-rehearsed, musical, passionate and enjoying the experience. It was
so nice to hear the final performance be something to remember - something that was
truly emotionally meaningful to all. Thank you."- Elizabeth B. Peterson, Associate Director of Bands, University of Illinois

"I just wanted to send you and your ensemble a message of congratulations and gratitude
regarding your performance at Midwest this year. I was not only moved by the performance,
but appreciated the diversity and effort put into the programming. Thank you and bravo
tutti!"- Ryan Caloud, Waunakee High School

"It's been several hours, but I'm still processing everything that I took in at the
Texas Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert this afternoon. It goes without saying
that all of the pieces were done incredibly well. Grainger's "Colonial Song" was easily
the best I have ever heard. Matthew Maslanka's tribute to his father in the 10th symphony
was a truly intimate look into their relationship which really tugged at my heart
strings. And, I'm inspired to look into Adam Schoenberg's music more deeply.

But, the piece that REALLY got me was. "Into the Silent Land" by Steve Danyew. Those
that know me also know that when I go to concerts, hard as I try, it's really hard
for me to listen without my conductor ears. This piece had me from the very beginning
and held onto me the WHOLE time, but when that ending happened, I was absolutely sobbing.
I can say, honestly, that I have never -ever- had that kind of visceral reaction to
a piece before. In fact, I don't even remember the Sousa march that followed it, because
I was still in the moment of the previous work. Thank you Steve for writing such a
powerful piece, and thank you Sarah McKoin for sharing it with us. This was an absolutely
stunning concert.

"It was an absolute pleasure to work with you and your students. You all truly found
the heart of the music and committed to it with your whole souls. I look forward to
many more years of connected, powerful music making."- Matthew Maslanka, son and co-composer of David Maslanka's Symphony 10

"As a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra
Clinic, it was my privilege to serve as liaison to the Texas Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble
as they prepared for performance at the 2018 Midwest Clinic.

Dr. McKoin's performance provided the grand finale for this year's conference at which
there were over 18,000 in attendance. My purpose in writing is to share with you the
overwhelmingly positive response we have received about the Texas Tech Concert. The
student musicians were incredibly well-prepared; the choice of wind literature and
flow of the concert was superb, and the artistry displayed on the podium by Dr. McKoin
was truly outstanding. The entire concert made an indelibly strong statement about
the quality of music-making at your institution. Dr. McKoin's leadership and musical
sensitivity made this a concert that those in attendance will not soon forget. She
touched the musical soul in a most profound manner.

In a world where (to borrow from Salieri) there are "too many notes," Sarah McKoin
and her musicians explored that rare landscape between the notes in order to create a profoundly expressive and memorable performance. Sarah also
provided a much-needed role model for the many young ladies in the audience who aspire
to become consummate music educators, and regrettably, still have few female role
models at the university level.

Thank you for your support of this outstanding ensemble, and their conductor. This
performance truly placed Sarah McKoin and the Texas Tech Wind Ensemble among the finest
conductors and wind ensembles in our profession."- Dr. Paula A. Crider, Professor Emerita, The University of Texas